OK, I'm done with the timing belt, I've change the tranny filter and got all the oil leaks fixed except the one at the oil cooler (waiting on parts for that one).  I also got my exhaust fixed and replaced the battery (it died while it was sitting on ramps . . . wouldn't charge and it started leaking).  Tomorrow I'm pulling driver's door pannel and replacing the window regulator and exterior door handle.

That just leaves some electrical stuff . . . I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction to get started.  Here are the issues:

About 2 months after I bought it, I put the lights on bright and the dash lights went out.  Put 'em back on dim and the dash lights came back on.  It's been like that ever since.  After a few days (well, nights actually) I realized my daytime running lights don't work and the tail lights go out when put it on bright.  If you pull the lever back slightly without clicking it, the brights and dims both work at the same time and the dash lights and tail lights stay on as well . . . as soon as it clicks onto bright, the dash and tail lights go out.  At about the same time this problem started, the cruise control started acting up.  Every now and then it will work fine, but most of the time it doesn't work at all.  I don't really think it's directly related to the light problem, but I guess it could be.  Anyway, I can live without cruise control, daytime running lights or dash lights, but I don't like having to choose between brights or tail lights! :x

When I was at Pull-A-Part several months ago, I pulled all the relays out of another 96 Passat.  I have no idea what each of them are for, but I exchanged them one at a time and nothing changed.  All the fuses seem to be fine.  My best guess is maybe the dimmer switch is bad  :?:  and my cruise control problem is a bad or mis-adjusted switch on the brake pedal  :?:    Anyone have any other ideas?

Dang Zen, sorry, i missed this post somehow, cause the switch is what i would have said.  It seems that every time i've seen one of those cars with wierd lighting issues like what you described, it's a problem with the headlamp switch.  As far as the cruise control issue, haven't messed with that gen. passat, but i have seen a lot of mk. III jettas where the cruise module takes a poop.  Sometimes they act up intermittently, then usually just die completely.  They look more like a big relay than an actual module, and depending on the vehilce, they are usually located behind the dash.  We actually have this cool looking, old school tester board that we plug in line with it to test the control functions if you wanna go that route.  Or maybe just scrounge at a pull-a-part and find you another one once you figure out where it is on that car..... Course, like i said, they are known to go bad over time. :wink: